From: "Thomas R. Holtz, Jr."
> Now, for the big interpretation. Xu et al. consider the elongated leg
wing
> feathers as gliding supports, and have a restoration of _Microraptor_ with
> its leg splayed out to the side. I find this very questionable, given
that
> there is no particular evidence that _Microraptor_ to move into this
> position (which in your typical dinosaur would require popping the femoral
> head out of the socket).
I strongly prefer HP Luis Rey's interpretation.
Something else unusual: Did you see the feathers attached to digit 1? Even
_Archaeopteryx_ and _Confuciusornis_ don't have it.
And "Dave"? Difficult to tell IMHO where the feathers beyond the thumb come
from.
> No, I don't have any good alternative explanation for the elongated leg
> feathers. Rudder? Aid in prey capture? Display? Genetic link by serial
> homology with the arm feathers?
I hope the leg feathers haven't be "added" to make the fossil more
spectacular.
How can one be sure those features are true?
Cheers - Aspidel.